Saturday mornings will not be the same for the next six weeks after this weekend's final round of junior cricket for 2017.
Maitland and District Junior Cricket Association breaks after Saturday’s round and returns after the school holidays on February 3.
Having fun, teamwork and learning new skills have been the name of the games for Dungog Shire juniors from Dungog, Paterson, Clarence Town and Gresford.
If winners are grinners the Gresford under-12s are championship winners as the team and extended family of parents, grandparents and siblings celebrate every run, catch and wicket with enthusiasm.
They came up against the strong Western Suburbs team on Saturday and put in a mighty effort to restrict the Plovers to 4/121. Patrick Gillespie (1-9), William Craig (1-10), Jaxon O’Connor (1-14) and Sam Hartigan (1-18) took a wicket each.
Gresford managed to bat through their overs and make 7/42. Daniel Craig and Jaxon O’Connor top scored with four each.
Paterson posted 6/66 in their game against Northern Suburbs, but were unable to restrict Norths batsman who made 4/76.
U-12 Division 1
Dungog under-12s had a four-wicket win in the hotly contested local derby against Clarence Town.
In a high-scoring encounter Clarence Town batted first and made 6/105 from their 24 overs.
Harrison Jones continued his great form with the bat making 35 not out retired. His innings followed 50 not out the week before. Jacob Head also got in the runs making 20.
Fraser Lovegrove led the Dungog bowling attack taking 2-4 off three overs. Taylor Hunt (1-10) and Andrew Jenkins (1-11) got a wicket each and the Dungog fielders also made two run outs.
Dungog’s Isaac Edwards has the Bradmanesque average of 93.5 after he retired on 31 not out, the fourth time this season he has retired on 30 plus.
Darcy Hill made 26 and Edwards’ opening partner Taylor Hunt made 14 as Dungog reached their target making 6/109 in 21 overs.
Nathaniel Stericker took 2-19 and Tait Maytom (1-1), Charlie Jones (1-3), Harrison Jones (1-7) and Jacob Head (1-22) got a wicket each for Clarence Town.
Dungog under-13s had a bye.
Next week
Under-12 Division 2
- City United v Paterson at GUOOF
- Thornton Park v Gresford at Thornton 2
Under-12 Division 1
- Dungog v Eastern Suburbs at DHS
- Raymond Terrace v Clarence Town at King Park 3
Under-13
- Dungog v Thornton at Bennett Park
